Central Agricultural University

About: Central Agricultural University is a education organization based out in Imphal, Manipur, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Agriculture. The organization has 1116 authors who have published 1157 publications receiving 9217 citations.

Growth and instability in pulses : A Spatiotemporal analysis in eastern India

Abstract: Pulses are not only vital ingredient of human diet but they are equally important to the health of humans and agricultural soils as well. The study revealed that the share of area and production of pulses in total food grains production has gone up. The area under total pulses in TE-2003 was worked out to be 7.52% of the total area under food grains in the region, which became almost, double, i.e. 14.48% in TE-2016.Production of pulses went up from 2.99% in TE-2003 to 6.22% in TE- 2016 and productivity of pulses has also improved (635.01 Kg/ha to 910.68 Kg/ha) during study period. The Compound growth rates of area and production were found positive in all the states. Though there is a wide gap between consumption and production, on account of low productivity of pulses, they are not able to compete with profitability of cereal crops, thus resulting in decreased area.

Studies on Genetic Divergence for Yield and Quality Traits in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Abstract: Genetic divergence analysis, using Mahalanobis D2 statistics, was carried out in twenty one cucumber genotypes including one check for fourteen characters. All the characters under study showed considerable divergence and the genotypes were grouped into four clusters. The clustering pattern had no parallelism between genetic diversity and geographical distribution, suggesting that the selection of parental genotypes for hybridization will be more appropriate based on genetic diversity. Cluster III contained the maximum (5) number of genotypes, whereas remaining all clusters I, II and IV contained similar (4) genotypes. The Intra-cluster distance was maximum (306.685) in cluster III whereas, it was minimum (163.11) in cluster II. Maximum average inter-cluster distance (1439.432) was recorded between cluster IV and cluster V, suggesting the greater chances of getting superior hybrids in F1 or transgressive segregants in subsequent generations. Genotypes in cluster IV were superior in node number of first female flower, days to first flowering, shelf-life, TSS, fruit length, fruit weight and fruit yield per plant. Cluster V had superiority in terms of vine length and number of seeds per fruit. Fruit weight, TSS, number of seeds per fruit, node number of first female flower, shelf-life, days to first harvest and days to first flowering contributed towards genetic divergence.

Genetic Variability Analysis of Early Maturing Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) Clones Using Morphological Characters

Abstract: An investigation was undertaken to identify sugarcane clones suitable for the identification of early maturing genotypes for higher sugar yield at Research Farm of DRPCAU, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar in Randomized Block Design with three replications during spring season 2018-19. Variability, correlation, and path analysis in twelve early maturing clones of sugarcane for twenty-one different morphological and juice quality characters were studied in relation to the checks viz. CoLk94184 and CoSe95422. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences for all characters studied. Genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation was highest for Sugar yield (CCS) at harvest (t/ha) among the early maturing clones. The highest heritability was obtained for Brix at 8month stage, Pol in juice at 8-month stage and Brix at 10-month stage. Genetic advance as per cent Original Research Article Singh et al.; CJAST, 39(26): 105-112, 2020; Article no.CJAST.60096 106 of mean was found to be highest in sugar yield (CCS) at harvest, cane yield and single cane weight indicating effectiveness of selection due to preponderance of additive gene action and breeder may consider these traits as main selection criteria.

Analysis of Rice Value Chains - A Study of Bihar and Karnataka States in India

Abstract: The present investigation was aimed for analyzing comparative value chain addition of rice production and marketing in Bihar and Karnataka States, based on primary data having 300 stakeholders selected using random sampling method from two purposively selected districts East Champaran and Davangere of Bihar and Karnataka, respectively, duly categorized into paddy growers, paddy wholesalers, millers, rice wholesalers, rice retailers and consumers. Farmers were the first value adding actors, and earned on an average of the gross return Rs 44,641.8/ha (East Champaran) and Rs 1, 32,117.26/ha (Davangere) by cultivating paddy. They added value of Rs 115.71 per quintal by drying, Rs 86.77 per quintal by selling in markets and Rs 127.27 per quintal by storing (speculation) of produce to sell in future in case of East Champaran district and in case of Davangere district. Paddy wholesalers, the second important key players, and added value of average Rs 65.8 per quintal and Rs 75.67 per quintal in case of both districts under study, respectively. Rice millers were important value adder in rice value chain and added value in three stages purchasing and milling of paddy and selling of rice. The value addition by rice millers estimated about 81.21 per cent and 26.55 per cent, and 60.63 per cent and 32.95 per cent by marketing and milling in East Champaran and Davangere district, respectively. Rice wholesalers were the fourth actor in value chain, value addition by them was about 10.69 per cent and 11.05 per cent in both districts, respectively. The profit earned from rice was Rs 2.38 per kg (East Champaran) and Rs 3.11 per kg (Davangere). Rice retailers, the final value chain actor received less value addition and the profit earned was estimated to be Rs 2.57 per kg and Rs 3.62 per kg in both the districts under study.

Exploiting RNA Interference Mechanism in Plants for Disease Resistance

Abstract: RNA interference (RNAi) is a novel technique in the field of functional genomics. It has an immense potential for managing plant diseases by down regulating expression of phytopathogens’ genes (invader’s gene) and other negative regulators of resistance pathways. This technique has become a breakthrough in the field of managing plant diseases rather than implementing biological and chemical control measures. RNAi mechanism involves the silencing of specific genes responsible for infection in the host plant, in a homology-dependent manner, before their translation. Incorporation of RNAi over the time has become one of the most promising technology, which reduces the risks incurred in the production of transgenic plants. The idea of gene silencing has been successful under laboratory conditions, and it is now gaining importance for field applications as well. However, problem presently to solve include delivering RNAi gene silencing in the field, in a convenient way for managing fungal, bacterial and viral plant diseases, on host-pathogen related targeted sites. This chapter will give an insight on the strategies of delivering RNAi mediated gene silencing and managing plant diseases in a most practical way for the farmers.